Landmark Agreement Moves 757 Species Toward Federal Protection

On July 12, 2011, the Center for Biological Diversity struck a historic legal settlement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, requiring the agency to make initial or final decisions on whether to add hundreds of imperiled plants and animals to the endangered species list by 2018. The Endangered Species Act is America's strongest environmental law and surest way to save species threatened with extinction.

Black-footed albatross: A large, dark-plumed seabird that lives in northwestern Hawaii, the black-footed albatross is threatened by longline swordfish fisheries, which kill it as bycatch.

The Center for Biological Diversity and allies petitioned to list this albatross as an endangered species in 2004. It is not on the candidate list. Under the agreement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was slated to propose it for protection, determine it does not qualify, or find that it is warranted but precluded for protection in 2011.

Scarlet Hawaiian honeycreeper ('i'iwi): This bright-red bird hovers like a hummingbird and has long been featured in the folklore and songs of native Hawaiians. It is threatened by climate change, which is causing mosquitoes that carry introduced diseases — including avian pox and malaria — to move into the honeycreeper's higher-elevations refuges. It has been eliminated from low elevations on all islands by these diseases.

The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned to list it as an endangered species in 2010. It is not on the candidate list. Under the agreement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was slated to propose it for protection (or determine it does not qualify) in 2016 and finalize the decision in 2017 if warranted. The Service issued an initial positive decision to protect this bird in 2012.

Greater and Mono Basin sage grouse: Sage grouse are showy, ground-dwelling birds that perform elaborate mating dances, with males puffing up giant air sacks on their chests. The Mono Basin sage grouse lives in Nevada and California. The greater sage grouse lives throughout much of the Interior West. Both are threatened by oil and gas drilling, livestock grazing, development and off-road vehicles.

The Center for Biological Diversity and allies petitioned to list the Mono Basin sage grouse as an endangered species in 2005. It was placed on the candidate list in 2010. Under the agreement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was slated to propose it for protection (or determine it does not qualify) in 2013 and finalize the decision in 2014 if warranted. The Service proposed protection in 2013 but backtracked on that proposal in 2015, compelling the Center to file suit the next year.

The greater sage grouse was petitioned for listing in 2002 and placed on the candidate list in 2010. Under our agreement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was slated to propose it for protection (or determine it does not qualify) in 2015 and finalize the decision in 2016 if warranted. The Service refused to grant this bird protection in 2016.

Mexican gray wolf: Exterminated from, then reintroduced to the Southwest, the Mexican gray wolf lives in remote forests and mountains along the Arizona/New Mexico border. It is threatened by legal and illegal killing, which has hampered the federal recovery program, keeping the species down to 50 wild animals.

The Center for Biological Diversity and allies petitioned to list it as an endangered species separate from other wolves in 2009. It is not on the candidate list. Under the agreement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was slated to propose it for protection (or determine it does not qualify) in 2012 and finalize the decision in 2013 if warranted. After the Service had failed to propose unique protection for this wolf, the Center sued in 2012.

Pacific fisher: A cat-like relative of minks and otters, the fisher is the only animal that regularly preys on porcupines. It lives in old-growth forests in California, Oregon and Washington, where it is threatened by logging.

The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned to list the fisher as an endangered species in 2000. It was placed on the candidate list in 2004. Under the agreement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was slated to propose it for protection (or determine it does not qualify) in 2014 and finalize the decision in 2015 if warranted. The agency proposed protection in 2014 but has not finalized its decision.

Miami blue butterfly: An ethereal beauty native to South Florida and possibly the most endangered insect in the United States, the Miami blue was thought extinct after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 but rediscovered in 1999. It is threatened by habitat loss and pesticide spraying.

It was petitioned for listing as an endangered species in 2000 and placed on the candidate list in 2005. The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned to list it on an emergency basis in 2011. Under the agreement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was slated to propose it for protection (or determine it does not qualify) in 2012 and finalize the decision in 2013 if warranted. Protection was finalized in August 2014.

Oregon spotted frog: The Oregon spotted frog lives in wetlands from southernmost British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to northernmost California. It is threatened by habitat destruction and exotic species.

The Oregon spotted frog was placed on the candidate in 1991. The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned to list it as an endangered species in 2004. Under the agreement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was slated to propose it for protection (or determine it does not qualify) in 2013 and finalize the decision in 2014 if warranted. After the Service had failed to propose protection for this frog, the Center sued in 2016.

Pacific walrus: A large, ice-loving, tusk-bearing pinniped, the Pacific walrus plays a major role in the culture and religion of many northern peoples. Like the polar bear, it is threatened by the rapid and accelerating loss of Arctic sea ice and oil drilling.

The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned to list it as an endangered species in 2007. It was placed on the candidate list in 2011. Under the agreement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was slated to propose it for protection (or determine it does not qualify) in 2017 and finalize the decision in 2018 if warranted.

Rio Grande cutthroat trout: Characterized by deep crimson slashes on its throat — hence the name “cutthroat” — the Rio Grande cutthroat is New Mexico's state fish. It formerly occurred throughout high-elevation streams in the Rio Grande Basin of New Mexico and southern Colorado. Logging, road building, grazing, pollution and exotic species have pushed it to the brink of extinction.

The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned to list it as an endangered species in 1998. It was placed on the candidate list in 2008. Under the agreement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was slated to propose it for protection (or determine it does not qualify) in 2014 and finalize the decision in 2015 if warranted. Because the Service denied protection to the trout in 2014, we filed a notice of intent to sue the next year.

404 Southeast aquatic species: The southeastern United States contains the richest freshwater biodiversity in the nation, harboring 62 percent of the country's fish species (493 species), 91 percent of its mussels (269 species) and 48 percent of its dragonflies and damselflies (241 species). Unfortunately, the wholesale destruction, diversion, pollution and development of the Southeast's rivers have made the region America's aquatic extinction capital.

None of the Southeast aquatic species are on the candidate list. Under the agreement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was slated to issue initial listing decisions on all 403 plants and animals in 2011.Ten of the species have already gained protection, including the Big Sandy crayfish, Laurel dace, Choctaw bean, fuzzy pigtoe and snuffbox. The Center has withdrawn 21 species based on new scientific information, and 12 of the species have received negative findings. The others are still under review.

42 Great Basin springsnails: Living in isolated springs of the Great Basin and Mojave deserts, springsnails play important ecological roles cycling nutrients, filtering water and providing food to other animals. Many are threatened by a Southern Nevada Water Authority plan to pump remote, desert groundwater to Las Vegas.

In 2009 the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned to list 42 springsnails as endangered species, including the duckwater pyrg, Big Warm Spring pyrg and Moapa pebblesnail. None are on the candidate list. Under the agreement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was slated to issue initial listing decisions on all 42 species in 2011, which it did; these species are still under status review.

32 Pacific Northwest mollusks: ThePacific Northwest is home to a unique diversity of mollusks found nowhere else on Earth. With colorful names like the evening fieldslug, cinnamon juga, Chelan mountainsnail and masked duskysnail, these species recycle nutrients, filter water and provide important prey for birds, amphibians and other animals. Many species are threatened by logging, pollution and urban sprawl.

In 2008 the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned to list 32 Washington, Oregon and Northern California mollusks as endangered species. None are on the candidate list. Under the agreement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was slated to issue initial listing decisions on all 32 species in 2011.The terrestrial species in the petition are still under status review; the aquatic species received negative findings because they have not yet been given formal scientific names.